GB2281325A

GB2281325A - Combined beam and gutter for conservatory

Info

Publication number: GB2281325A
Application number: GB9413319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Lancaster
Original assignee: Ultraframe PLC
Current assignee: Ultraframe PLC
Priority date: 1993-07-30
Filing date: 1994-07-01
Publication date: 1995-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-01
Also published as: GB9315770D0; GB9413319D0; GB2281325B

Abstract

A structural element (10) for use in constructing a conservatory, the element being formed in one piece and comprising a beam (12) for supporting glazing bars (32) and a gutter (36). <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: Structural Elements DESCRIPTION This invention concerns structural elements and, in particular, structural elements for use in constructing conservatories.

For constructing conservatories, the modern technique is to produce extrusions of aluminium and/or u-PVC which can be cut to length and fitted together as simply as possible, in order to reduce time and hence cost of construction. In general a conservatory will have supporting walls on top of which are secured glazing bars which hold between them glazing panels typically of transluscent material, such as glass or polycarbonate. Conservatories are provided with guttering to collect rain water from the roof and to carry it to downpipes. Guttering is generally an add on item requiring support brackets. Thus, fitting guttering to a conservatory can be time consuming.

An object of this invention is to provide an easier way of incorporating guttering into a conservatory structure.

According to the invention there is provided a structural element for use in constructing a conservatory, the structural element being formed in one piece and comprising a beam for supporting glazing bars and a gutter.

The beam is preferably of hollow section and preferably has a generally trapezoidal cross-section.

Side walls of the beam are preferably at right angles to its bottom wall with its top wall sloping downwards towards the gutter part of the structural element.

Glazing bars are preferably connectable to the beam. Preferably the beam has means for retaining glazing bar securing means. The retaining means preferably comprises a channel formation for retaining heads of glazing bar securing bolts, the bolts being securable through a glazing bar by means of nuts on the bolts.

Means for connecting two structural elements of the invention may be provided. Such means may comprise a rigid member, preferably of box section, which fits into the ends of the two elements to be joined together.

The rigid member is preferably of metal, especially aluminium. The structural elements of the invention preferably have internal spacers to facilitate alignment of the rigid member within the element. The rigid member and the structural element may also have mutually engaging formations which engage when the rigid member is slid into the end of a structural element.

The gutter preferably comprises a continuation of a bottom wall of the beam, which continuation preferably provides a bottom of the gutter and one side wall extending generally upwards from the bottom of the gutter. Preferably the other side wall of the gutter is provided by a side wall of the beam.

The structural element of the invention is preferably formed of plastics material, especially as an extrusion. A preferred plastics material for the structural element is u-PVC.

By providing a supporting beam and gutter in one piece the contruction of a conservatory or like structure may be simplified and hence time and cost of construction may be reduced.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a section through a conservatory at the top of a side wall thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a conservatory has a side wall on which is mounted an elongate member 10 which is a so-called ring beam and gutter. The member 10 is manufactured as a one piece extrusion in u-PVC and comprises a first part 12 in the form of a box section having a trapezoidal crosssection. The box section part 12 has a bottom wall 14, inner and outer side walls 16 and 18 respectively at right angles to the bottom wall 14, the inner wall extending higher than the outer wall, and a top wall 20 sloping from the inner wall down to outer wall. The inner side wall at its lower part turns outwards at right angles and then downwards at right angles before meeting the bottom wall in from its inner edge to form a narrow channel 22 the length of the member 10.The upper and lower faces of the channel are serrated so that a masking element can be attached thereto by means of a projection from the rear of the element which is a press fit into the channel 22.

Inside the box section 12 its walls 14, 16 and 18 have elongate spacers 24 and its top wall 20 has a pair of facing L-section elongate projections 26. The spacers 24 and projections 26 are to assist positioning and retention of an aluminium box-section extrusion 28 shaped to fit members 10 for joining them end to end as required.

The top wall 20 has on its top surface a channel section formation 30 for receiving heads of bolts 32 used for securing glazing bars 34 onto the member 10 by means of nuts 36 on the bolts. The formation 30 has parallel sides 40 and upwardly sloping top sections 42 which are returned parallel to the sides 40 leaving a gap therebetween. The inner box section 42 is sloped so that the glazing bar sits flat on it. The bolts 32 are positioned by being slid along the channel section 30 from one or other end thereof.

The glazing bars 34 support between them roofing panels, typically multiskin polycarbonate roofing panels.

The bottom wall 14 of the member 19 is continued beyond side wall 18 to form a base for a gutter 36.

The continuation of the base turned upwards forms the outer side 38 of the gutter whereon the outer side wall 18 of the box section forms the other side of the gutter.

Claims

1. A structural element for use in constructing a conservatory, the structural element being formed in one piece and comprising a beam for supporting glazing bars and a gutter.

2. An element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is of hollow section.

3. An element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the beam has a generally trapezoidal cross-section.

4. An element as claimed in claim 3, wherein side walls of the beam are at right angles to its bottom wall with its top wall sloping downwards towards the gutter part of the structural element.

5. An element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein glazing bars are connectable to the beam.

6. An element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the beam has means for retaining glazing bar securing means.

7. An element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the retaining means comprises a channel formation for retaining heads of glazing bar securing bolts, the bolts being securable through a glazing bar by means of nuts on the bolts.

8. An element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 having means for connecting the element to another such element.

9. An element as claimed in claim 8, wherein said connecting means comprises a rigid member, which fits into ends of the two elements to be connected.

10. An element as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rigid member is of box section.

11. An element as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the rigid member is of metal.

12. A element as claimed in claim 9,10 or 11, wherein the rigid member is of aluminium.

13. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 9 to 12, wherein the structural element has internal spacers for alignment of the rigid member within the element.

14. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 9 to 13, wherein the rigid member and element have mutually engaging formations which engage when the rigid member is slid into the end of the element.

15. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14, wherein the gutter is a continuation of a bottom wall of the beam.

16. An element as claimed in claim 15, wherein said continuation provides a bottom for the gutter and one side wall extending generally upwards from the bottom of the gutter.

17. An element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the other side wall of the gutter is provided by a side wall of the beam.

18. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 17 formed of plastics material.

19. An element as claimed in claim 18 formed of u PVC.

20. A structural element for use in constructing a conservatory substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.